Avocet non-breeding plumage

(626 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo was taken late March of this year and many birds were still in just black and white. For courting and breeding the necks and chest acquire a rusty or tan color. They really seem to enjoy their mud-flats.

Great Egret

(622 views)
by Terry Costales

I think I am addicted to taking shots of flying egrets.

Great Egret

(622 views)
by Terry Costales

The Great Egret has just caught a small fish.

Great Egret flying

(620 views)
by Terry Costales

To get a shot of a graceful bird flying is always a coup.

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

(620 views)
by Terry Costales

Of course England has it's fair share of "flying rats". For some reason this one in Hyde Park seemed more like an actual bird to me than just feathered vermin. I'm sure if I was there long enough they would become just as annoying as pigeons are here at home.

Great Egret (ardea alba)

(620 views)
by Terry Costales

This shows all the markings you would look for in identifying this bird in the breeding season. The lacy plumes on the back and the green/blue "mask" that extends from the base of the bill to the eye are only present during this time. The Audubon Society came into existence to stop the extermination of great Egrets by plume hunters and has this bird as it's logo. Great Egrets are found world-wide, even in Australia .

Great Egret

(620 views)
by Terry Costales

I was fascinated to watch this egret hunt . He moved very patiently and slowly, then his head would dart into the shallow water and he would come up with a little fish. It must take a lot of little fish to fill such a large bird.

Male Lion Sleeping

(618 views)
by Terry Costales

Here is a photo of a lion doing what a lion does best.

Killdeer in Flight

(618 views)
by Terry Costales

Killdeer are a shy and fast bird. Consequently I rarely get a good shot of one. I was lucky this day to get that elusive shot.

Great Egret (Ardea Alba)

(618 views)
by Terry Costales

These large egrets are graceful and breathtaking in flight. I watched this bird flying back and forth several times bringing nesting material back to it's mate. There was only one pair that I saw amongst dozens of the smaller Snowy Egrets.

Great Egret

(618 views)
by Terry Costales

I got this shot just as the egret was landing. Look closely and you can see the feet haven't quite come to rest on the pipe.

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

(618 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo caught a sleepy juvenile unaware of the camera. Like yesterday's photo, I love the narrow field of focus.

Great Egret and Pheasant

(618 views)
by Terry Costales

I didn't see a pheasant when I looked at this tree, only the Egret. As the boat drew nearer to the tree the pheasant burst out, startling the egret and me. I tried to get a shot of them as they flew past, but I was much too slow. It wasn't until I looked at the photos at home that I had the pleasure to see I had gotten a shot of the pheasant after all.

Young Canada Geese

(618 views)
by Terry Costales

Yesterdays picture was taken of a gosling that was only a few days old. Today's photo was taken three weeks later. Now you should definitely be able to see that they are becoming adult geese. These goslings have lost their cute baby fuzz, but don't yet possess the handsome markings of an adult. But such is the bane of all adolescents.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

(618 views)
by Terry Costales

This picture was taken late May of this year. This is a very active bird so I was surprised and delighted to see it perch long enough for me to photograph it. The Barn Swallow is the only American swallow that has that deeply forked "swallow-tail".

Fledgling Night Heron

(618 views)
by Terry Costales

This picture was taken early May. The nest was in a very shady area and it was overcast, but luckily there was a brief break in the clouds which provided enough light for me to get a decent shot. This fledgling night heron managed to stay in the nest despite what looked like a precarious perch.

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)

(616 views)
by Terry Costales

I took this photo April 4th of this year while in London. I didn't know what it was at the time but I knew I had never seen this duck before. I was quite taken with the brilliant gold of it's head. When the sun shone on its head there was an amazing metallic sheen which really has to be seen in person to be appreciated. These pochards are not found in the United States.

Soft-shelled Turtle (Trionyx ferox)

(616 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a photo of a soft-shelled turtle. Unlike the numerous red-eared sliders, this was the only soft-shelled turtle I saw that day.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

(616 views)
by Terry Costales

Something about a swan. I see one and I feel like I am getting a small glimpse into a fairy tale. Swans conjure images of fairy princesses, enchanted lakes and talking animals. I almost expect to turn my head and see a unicorn come to drink at the edge of this pond. A more realistic approach to these birds is not to just admire them but protect them as well. The population of swans had declined in the UK due to habitat loss and lead poisoning, but their numbers are rising again. The Mute s . . .

White Horse

(616 views)
by Terry Costales

Hyde Park is a large London park with much to offer visitors. Kids played soccer on the lawns. People paddled boats. Couples strolled the many paths in and around the Serpentine This photo is of a very dignified, white, police horse.

Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)

(616 views)
by Terry Costales

I hate to give away the secret behind this shot but, in actuality, this ferocious tiger is merely yawning.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(616 views)
by Terry Costales

This female Killdeer is standing over eggs in its "nest." Three eggs are actually present but only one is clearly visible. Even the clearly visible one is very well camouflaged. It is reputed their call sounds like "kill deer" and thus the name. I don't hear it myself but maybe that's just me.

Reindeer

(616 views)
by Terry Costales

The quintessential Christmas animal.

Young Night Heron

(616 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo was taken early in May. There were 4 or 5 young ones about this size on the ground all within the fenced in area. Sometimes one of them would clamber up into a bush, but mostly they sat quietly on the ground. This little night heron actually flew a short distance to explore the edge of the nearby pond. He made a few jabbing motions with his bill and managed a couple of times to pick up a twig I felt quite privileged to have witnessed and recorded these birds and their behavior. . . .

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(616 views)
by Terry Costales

The female Killdeer in this picture is adopting a wounded bird pose and making a distress call. She is trying to lure me away from her nest by convincing me she is easy prey. Luckily for her I only wanted her photo.